An insertion tool of the type for inserting and connecting a disk drive in a system is provided. The disk drive insertion tool including: a carrying board having an insertion end, back end, opposing top and bottom surfaces, and sides; a side drive guide extending from the top surface along a portion of the carrying board from proximate the insertion end substantially parallel to each of the sides; an end drive guide extending from the top surface proximate an end of the side drive guides opposite the insertion end defining a disk drive compartment between the drive guides for removably securing a disk drive therein; and the sides forming side rails having a reduced cross-section extending from the insertion end, the side rails having a cross-section sized to slide through drive bay guides formed in a system cage.
|
1. A disk drive insertion tool for inserting a disk drive into a system and disconnecting said disk drive insertion tool from said disk and said system, said disk drive insertion tool comprising:
a carrying board having an insertion end, back end, opposing top and bottom surfaces, and sides; a side drive guide extending from said top surface along a portion of said carrying board from proximate said insertion end substantially parallel to each of said sides; an end drive guide extending from said top surface proximate an end of said side drive guides opposite said insertion end defining a disk drive compartment between said drive guides for removably securing a disk drive therein; and said sides forming side rails having a reduced cross-section extending from said insertion end, said side rails having a cross-section sized to slide through drive bay guides formed in a system cage.
11. A method of operationally connecting a disk drive into a system comprising the steps of:
providing disk drive insertion tool comprising a carrying board having an insertion end, back end, opposing top and bottom surfaces, and sides, a side drive guide extending from said top surface along a portion of said carrying board from proximate said insertion end substantially parallel to each of said sides, an end drive guide extending from said top surface proximate an end of said side drive guides opposite said insertion end defining a disk drive compartment between said drive guides for removably securing a disk drive therein, and said sides forming side rails having a reduced cross-section extending from said insertion end, said side rails having a cross-section sized to slide through drive bay guides formed in a system cage; placing a disk drive on said disk drive compartment substantially abutting said drive guides; engaging said carrying board side rails with said drive bay guides; inserting said carrying board into said system cage until said disk drive is operationally connected within said system; securing said disk drive in said system cage; and removing said carrying board from said disk drive and said system cage.
9. A disk drive insertion tool for inserting a disk drive into a system and disconnecting said disk drive insertion tool from said disk and said system, said disk drive insertion tool comprising:
a carrying board having an insertion end, back end, opposing top and bottom surfaces, and sides; a side drive guide extending from said top surface along a portion of said carrying board from proximate said insertion end substantially parallel to each of said sides; an end drive guide extending from said top surface proximate an end of said side drive guides opposite said insertion end defining a disk drive compartment between said drive guides for removably securing a disk drive therein; said sides forming side rails having a reduced cross-section extending from said insertion end, each said side rail forming an insertion tab section proximate said insertion end, said insertion tab section angled to a position above said top surface of said carrying board, said side rails and said insertion tab having a cross-section sized to slide through drive bay guides formed in a system cage; and a stop tab extending from said bottom surface of said carrying board positioned to contact a portion of said system cage to identify when said disk drive is inserted a distance sufficient for functional connection within said system; wherein said carrying board may be removed from said disk drive after said disk drive is inserted into said system.
2. The insertion tool of
a stop tab extending from said bottom surface of said carrying board positioned to contact a portion of said system cage to identify when said disk drive is inserted a distance sufficient for functional connection within said system.
3. The insertion tool of
4. The insertion tool of
5. The insertion tool of
6. The insertion tool of
7. The insertion tool of
8. The insertion tool of
10. The insertion tool of
12. The method of
a stop tab extending from said bottom surface of said carrying board positioned to contact a portion of said system cage to identify when said disk drive is inserted a distance sufficient for functional connection within said system.
13. The method of
14. The method of
15. The method of
16. The method of
17. The method of
18. The method of
19. The method of
said side rails form an insertion tab section proximate said insertion end, said insertion tab section angled to a position above said top surface of said carrying board; and said insertion tool further including a stop tab extending from said bottom surface of said carrying board positioned to contact a portion of said system cage to identify when said disk drive is inserted a distance sufficient for functional connection within said system.
20. The method of
said side rails form an insertion tab section proximate said insertion end, said insertion tab section angled to a position above said top surface of said carrying board; said insertion tool further including a stop tab extending from said bottom surface of said carrying board positioned to contact a portion of said system cage to identify when said disk drive is inserted a distance sufficient for functional connection within said system; and said insertion tool is a unitary and substantially rigid construction.
|
The present invention relates generally to the field of electronic disk storage systems and more particularly to a unitary tool for facilitating the insertion of a disk drive into a disk storage and operation system that can be removed from the disk drive after insertion.
Disk storage systems may include a plurality of disk drives that are disposed within a chassis or cage of a computing system commonly through a disk drive port. The disk drive includes a connector that interfaces with a corresponding connector on another card within the chassis and computer system to make necessary electrical interconnections between the disk drive and the card and the disk drive and the associated control electronics.
Typically, there is very limited space to navigate a disk drive into position for connection and securement during the manufacturing process of the computing device. The insertion of a replacement or upgrade disk drive requires navigation of the disk drive in an even more confined environment. This placement and securement of a disk drive is more difficult in deep cage configurations.
Heretofore it has been common for an operator to struggle to position and connect a disk drive in a system utilizing the user's hands and other hand tools not designed specifically for this process. Prior art devices have been utilized that specifically latch onto the disk drive to help extend the reach of the user's appendages and to spread the user's grip on the disk drive. These prior art devices and methods require that the user push and pull and rely on feeling and luck to securely connect the disk drive. These processes are prone to mistakes and incomplete connection that result in wasted time, money and possible damage to the disk drive or disk drive connection. Other prior art devices utilize a disk carrier board that is permanently attached to the disk drive. Often these disk carriers have locking mechanisms for securing the carrier board and associated disk drive in the chassis. These prior art carrier boards require additional expense and waste valuable space for placement of the functional disk drive.
It is therefore a desire to provide a disk drive insertion tool that can be removed after insertion and connection of the disk drive in the computing device. It is a further desire to provide a disk drive insertion tool that can be utilized to insert and connect a disk drive within the tight confinements of a drive bay. It is a still further desire to provide a disk drive insertion tool that can support a drive disk with minimal human contact while being connected within a computing device. It is an additional desire to provide a disk drive insertion tool that utilizes the drive bay rails to guide the insertion tool and carried disk drive into the computing device for functional connection.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a disk drive insertion tool that can removably carry a disk drive for insertion and connection within a computing and/or electronic storage device.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a disk drive insertion device that facilitates insertion of a disk drive into a computing and/or electronic data storage system with minimal direct human contact with the disk drive.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a disk drive insertion device that is reusable.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a disk drive insertion device that is simple to use for original assembly of a computing device or upgrading systems.
Accordingly, an insertion tool of the type for inserting and connecting a disk drive in a system is provided. The disk drive insertion tool includes: a carrying board having an insertion end, back end, opposing top and bottom surfaces, and sides; a side drive guide extending from the top surface along a portion of the carrying board from proximate the insertion end substantially parallel to each of the sides; an end drive guide extending from the top surface proximate an end of the side drive guides opposite the insertion end defining a disk drive compartment between the drive guides for removably securing a disk drive therein; and the sides forming side rails having a reduced cross-section extending from the insertion end, the side rails having a cross-section sized to slide through drive bay guides formed in a system cage.
In one embodiment of the present invention the insertion body is constructed as a unitary piece of polystyrene. The insertion tool is constructed of a material of sufficient strength to support the disk drive and permit the application of sufficient force to connect the disk drive in the system. It may also be desired to include indicia on the top and/or bottom surface of the carrying board. The indicia can include information such as, but not limited to, company logos, contact addresses and phone numbers and disk drive specifications.
In an embodiment of the invention the disk drive insertion tool includes an insertion tab section or positive rail tab. This insertion tab is a raised section of the side rail located proximate the insertion end of the carrying board. The insertion tab may be utilized to engage the drive bay guides for ease and security in inserting the disk drive.
It may be further desired to include a stop tab extending from a surface of the carrying board. This tab is to be spaced a distance from the insertion end of the carrying board to contact the chassis or cage to indicate when the drive disk has been inserted a distance sufficient to operationally connect the disk drive in the system. It may desired to construct the side and/or end drive guide drives so as to be moveable and securable in desired locations
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Refer now to the drawings wherein depicted elements are not necessarily shown to scale and wherein like or similar elements are designated by the same reference numeral through the several figures.
As illustrated in
Insertion tool 10 is utilized to carry a disk drive 28 into a chassis 30 of a computing system for functional connection thereto. As shown, carrying board 12 carrying disk drive 28 is positioned so as to be inserted into a drive bay 32 formed by chassis 30. Sides 22a and 22b are placed and guided through bay rails 34 until disk drive 28 is functionally connected within the computing or storage system. Disk drive 28 may be connected to chassis 30 by securing means, such as a screw 36 threaded into chassis 30 and disk drive 28.
Carrying board 12 is an elongated piece of sufficient width and length to carry a disk drive 28. Side drive guides 24a, b are positioned proximate and substantially parallel to respective carrying board sides 22a, b. Side drive guides 24a, 24b are offset from insertion end 14 and sides 22a, b. Formed exterior of side drive guides 24a, 24b by sides 22a, 22b are rails 38a and 38b. Rails 38a, b have a reduced thickness sized to glide between drive bay rails 34 (FIG. 1). Rails 38a, b extend from insertion end 14 to a sufficient distance past a distal end of drive guides 24a, b to allow for complete insertion of disk drive 28 into drive bay 34 (FIG. 1). Rails 38a, b each form a positive rail tabs 40a and 40b at insertion end 14. Tabs 40a, b are upwardly angled portions for engaging and guiding insertion tool 10 through drive bay guides 34.
End drive guide 26 extends upwardly from the top surface 18 of board 12 proximate to the ends of side drive guides 24a, b opposite insertion end 14. Side drive guides 24a, b and end drive guide 26 define a disk drive compartment 42. With reference to
Use of disk drive insertion tool 10 of the present invention is described in relation to
Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, various size and spacing configurations may be utilized to adapt to various cages in which disk drives are to be connected, it may also be desired to provide moveable members in a manner such that a single insertion tool may be utilized for various width and depth cages.
Armstrong, Adam Ian, Newman, Peter Ira, Wojdylo, Jean Stanley
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
7154757, | Sep 24 2004 | Oracle America, Inc | Media drive vibration isolation and attenuation method and apparatus |
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
4109379, | Jul 07 1976 | ITALTEL S P A | Manipulator for the insertion and extraction of printed-circuit boards into and from a holder therefor |
4141138, | May 31 1977 | King Radio Corporation | Tool for inserting and extracting integrated circuits |
4279072, | Sep 12 1978 | Gebruder Junghans GmbH | Arrangement for the disassembly of a circuit board |
4605256, | Oct 25 1984 | Augat Inc. | Locking tool for manipulation of electronic components |
4639863, | Jun 04 1985 | Maxtor Corporation | Modular unitary disk file subsystem |
4858309, | Jun 28 1988 | AMP Incorporated | Extraction tool |
5277615, | Sep 24 1992 | HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L P | Apparatus for removably supporting a plurality of hot plug-connected hard disk drives |
5579204, | Aug 05 1994 | EMC Corporation | Disk carrier assembly |
5602717, | Jul 27 1994 | EMC Corporation | Hot-pluggable data storage device having vibration absorbing and mechanical connector alignment |
5795177, | Aug 25 1995 | Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha | Mounting mechanism of components, mounting mechanism of unit and method of mounting components |
6040980, | Oct 21 1998 | U S BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT | Disk drive to chassis mounting apparatus and method |
6084768, | Jun 15 1998 | Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP | Non-operational shock protection for disk carriers in a high density package |
6094342, | Jul 14 1997 | Seagate Technology LLC | Disk drive jacket |
DE4033833, | |||
WO9318517, |
Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
Oct 03 2001 | International Business Machines Corporation | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / | |||
Oct 03 2001 | WOJDYLO, JEAN STANLEY | International Business Machines Corporation | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 012239 | /0248 | |
Oct 03 2001 | NEWMAN, PETER IRA | International Business Machines Corporation | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 012239 | /0248 | |
Oct 03 2001 | ARMSTRONG, ADAM IAN | International Business Machines Corporation | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 012239 | /0248 | |
Dec 31 2002 | International Business Machines Corporation | MARIANA HDD B V | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 015370 | /0450 | |
Dec 31 2002 | MARIANA HDD B V | HITACHI GLOBAL STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES NETHERLANDS B V | CHANGE OF NAME SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 015348 | /0191 | |
Jul 23 2012 | HITACHI GLOBAL STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES NETHERLANDS B V | HGST NETHERLANDS B V | CHANGE OF NAME SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 029341 | /0777 | |
Aug 31 2016 | HGST NETHERLANDS B V | Western Digital Technologies, INC | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 040820 | /0802 | |
Jan 13 2020 | Western Digital Technologies, INC | JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N A , AS AGENT | SECURITY INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 052915 | /0566 | |
Feb 03 2022 | JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N A | Western Digital Technologies, INC | RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 052915 FRAME 0566 | 059127 | /0001 |
Date | Maintenance Fee Events |
Feb 13 2004 | ASPN: Payor Number Assigned. |
Feb 23 2007 | M1551: Payment of Maintenance Fee, 4th Year, Large Entity. |
Mar 05 2007 | ASPN: Payor Number Assigned. |
Mar 05 2007 | RMPN: Payer Number De-assigned. |
Mar 01 2011 | M1552: Payment of Maintenance Fee, 8th Year, Large Entity. |
Feb 26 2015 | M1553: Payment of Maintenance Fee, 12th Year, Large Entity. |
Date | Maintenance Schedule |
Sep 02 2006 | 4 years fee payment window open |
Mar 02 2007 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Sep 02 2007 | patent expiry (for year 4) |
Sep 02 2009 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 4) |
Sep 02 2010 | 8 years fee payment window open |
Mar 02 2011 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Sep 02 2011 | patent expiry (for year 8) |
Sep 02 2013 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 8) |
Sep 02 2014 | 12 years fee payment window open |
Mar 02 2015 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Sep 02 2015 | patent expiry (for year 12) |
Sep 02 2017 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 12) |